Electric switch



Dec. 8, 1925- F. P. GATES ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Jan. 2,' 1925 Patented Dec. 8, 1925i.v

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERIC P. GATES, 0F WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE FULLER- GATES COMPANY, OE HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION 0F CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application led January 2, 1925. Serial No. 90.

To all whom it' may concern.' v

Be it known that I, FREDERIC P. GATES, Aa citizen ofthe United States, and a resident of West Hartford, in the county of Hart-ford and State of Connecticut, have invented new and Improved Electric Switches, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more especially to n that class of electric switches for varying the amounts of current flowing through a cc'm'ductor, the device herein illustrated being especially.. equipped with means for attachment intermediate the ends of a length of a flexible conductor, andv an object of my invention, among others, is to provide a switch of this class that shall be extremely simple 'in construction and particularly 4elicient'in its method of. operation.

` One form of device embodying my invention and in the construction and use of -which the objects herein set out, as well as others, may be attained, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is aside view of a switch ,emvbodying my invention.

Figure 2 is an end view of the same. `Fi re -3 is a view similar to Figure 1,

'preferably formed in two sections 10-11 that may be secured together in any suitable manner, as by means of screws, the front edge of the case having a depression 12, one edge 13 of which forms `a stop for a purpose to be hereinafter described. These sections are veach provided at opposite ends with grooves 14--15 forming complemental parts of openingsthat, when the sections are secured together, constitute holes through the ends of. the case to the interior thereof through which conducting wires. extend` The `front edge of the case is also provided with a slot 16 preferably formed, as to oneI side and opposite ends, in the c ase section 10, the opposite side of said slot being formed by the edge of the case section 11 as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

A recess17 is formed in one case section, y 4as 10, for the reception of the operative parts of the switch comprising movable elements and stationary parts, the movable elements being mounted on a post 18 secured to the section 10 and rising through the but ooking at thel structure from a point may be desired for the reception of switch but 'with the thumb. plate" removed.

Figure 6 is a view in 'section on a plane denoted by the dotted-line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a perspective View, scale en` larged, of they switch mechanism illustratinglits method of operation. i t y improved switch, in the spec1a1 form of its construction shown herein, comprises part of a connection with the device to be supplied with the electric current, and it is made lin the shape of a handle so that it may be readil grasped by the hand and held therein or the purpose of varying the amountof' current sup lied to the device. The switch `is of particu ar advantage when used in connection withla heating pad, and when so used the heato the pad may be i controlled as desired; When thus adapted for use said handle comprises a shell or case,

parts.

Positive terminals 19--2021 provided with any suitable means, as screws, for the attachment of yconducting wires thereto, are located in the recess 17 and negative terminals 22-23 having similar attachments for conducting wires, are also secured within said recess and are joined'by a connection 24 bridging across the other artsof the structure within the recess. he parts thus far described are of well known construction and their readily un erstood by. those skilled in the art.

A switch blade is mounted on the post 18 and has three fingers 25-26-27'adapted to successively engage contacts 528-29-30 comprising segments secured to or extending from the terminals 19--20-21, and as urpose and function will beadvancing edges of the arms 3l are sloped i to cause the'switch blade to travel forward as it is moved downwardly by the spring 32.

A thumb disc 34: is rotatably mounted, being supported by the post 18, said disc having a recess Within which the cross bar 33 of the actuator' is located. This thumb disc -is provided with projections 35 (four in the structure hereinshown) adapted to be engaged by the thumb for the purpose of rotating the disc and consequently the switch blade. These projections may be provided with suitable significations to indicate the position of the switch blade as Oli', Low, Medium, and High and for the purposeof -indicating position, as by feeling notches 36 may be formed on the. edges of the projections, each projection having a diiterent number of notches :from those on another.

It may be understood 'that one' end of the spring 32 is secured to the post 18 and the other end is secured to the switch blade in a manner common to devices of this class. The shoulders 13 are located in the path of movement of a thumb engaging the projections 35 and at such distance therefrom that when the projection has been moved by the thumb a proper distance to eect a one step mo'vement of the switch blade, the thumb will come in contact with the shoulder that thereby determine the proper degree. of movement of the thumb disc to insure proper operation of the switch blade. The

f disc projects to a very accessible position for operation by the thumb while the switch is held in the hand and it will be apparent that the disc may be well operated without the use of the stop, although the latteris of much advanta e."

As herembe ore noted an important if'ea'f ture of vmy invention resides ,in the thumb or'actiiating ldisc thatis rotated always in the same direction, and in order to insure such operation I provide means for preventing backward'rotation ofthe disc. This comprises a stop collar 37 secured lto the post '18 and having a number of stop lugs 38 (four in the structure shown herein) that are engaged by detents 39 located on the cross bar 33 and preferably bent up from the metal thereof in 1position to engage said lugs in any materia movement of the actuator disc backwardly. The actuator of which the cross bar 33 forms a part being supported on the spring. 32, said actuator may move downwardly against the tension of the spring' to permit the detents to pass under the lugs 38, said spring moving the actuator upwardly after the detents have passed the lugs, thus locating the detents in osition to engage the lugs and prevent backward movement of the actuator disc.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes I have described the principles of operation of my invention, together with the device which I now consider to represent the bestembodiment thereof; but I ldesire to have it understood that the device jections thereon, and a shoulder located in the path of movement of a thumb engaged with said projections to rotate the disc and to limit its rotation.

3. An electric switch including a switch blade, a thumb disc operatively connected with said blade to rotate it, a plurality of projections evenly spaced on the periphery of said disc, and a stop shoulder spaced from the projectionsl when the disc is in a, normal position a distance substantially that between said projections.

` 4. An yelectric switch including an inclosv ing case, a switch. blade rotatably mounted in the case, a thumb disc operatively connected with the blade to rotate it, said disc projecting through a slot in the case, and a lshoulder formed on said case in the path of movement of a thumb engaged with said disc and to limit rotation of the latter.

5. An electricv switch including" a switch bladewith contacts therefor, an actuator disc operatively connected with the switch blade,

a stop having lugs projectingtherefrom, and a detent on said switch blade to engage said lugs and thereby prevent backward rotation of said actuator. l

6. An electric switch comprising a switch blade with contacts therefor, an actuator operatively connected with the switch blade, an actuator disc attached to said actuator to rotate therewith, detents on said actuator, and means to engage said detents to prevent backward movement of the actuator.

7. An electric switch comprising' a switch blade vwith contacts therefor, an actuator disc, an actuator loosely attached to said disc for movement independently thereof in one 8. An electric switch comprising a switch.

blade with contacts therefor, a supporting post, an actuator disc mounted on said post and operatively connected with the switch blades, a stop collar secured against rotating movement, and means on said stop collar to prevent backward movement of said actuator disc.

9. An electric switch comprising a switch blade with contacts therefor, a supporting postan actuator mounted on said post and yieldingly sup orted, an actuator disc supported by sald) post and attached to said actuator. detents on said actuator, a stop collar secured to said post, vandstop lugs on said collar to engage said detents to prevent backward movement of the actuator and actuator disc.

10. An electric switch comprising a switch blade with contacts therefor, a supporting post, an actuator disc mounted on said post and operatively connected with said blade, a stop collar secured tov said post, and means on said stop collar to prevent backward movement of said actuator disc.

11. An electric switch including a switch blade, a thumb disc operatively connected with said blade 'and comprising means for rotating it, and means located on'said disc at the points of contact of the thumb and ngers and erceptible to the touch for in dicating di erent positions thereof.

12. An electric switch including a switch blade, a thumb disc o ratively connected with said blade and having a number of .pro-' jections thereon, means on the ends of said projections and perceptible to the touch for indlcating the position of said. thumb disc,

and a shoulder located in the path of movement of a thumb engaged with said projec tions toc rotate the disc and to limit its rotation. 'y

- 13. An electric switch including a post, a switch blade rotatably mounted on said post,

an actuator rotatably mounted on said post,

a stop member supported by said post, said actuator and stop member having relative movement longitudinallyof said post, interengaging'members on said stop member and actuator to prevent'backward movement of the latter, and an actuator disc mounted to rotate with said actuator.

14. An electric switch comprising a switch blade with contacts therefor, an actuator operatively connected with the switch blade, an actuator disc connected with said actuator to rotate therewith. stop elements on .said actuator, and means to engage said stop elements to prevent backward movement of the actuator.

FREDERIC P. GATES. 

